Hon. Bernard Membe to attend Africa/Turkey Ministerial Review Conference

Istanbul to host the Africa/Turkey Ministerial Review Conference

Addis Ababa - On 16 December 2011, the Africa/Turkey Ministerial Review Conference will be held in Istanbul,Turkey, in linewith the Follow-up Mechanism of the Istanbul Declaration on “Africa– Turkey Partnership”. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs,International Cooperation and Francophonie of the Republic of Equatorial Guineaand Chairperson of the Executive Council of the African Union, Mr. Pastor MicheOndo Bile (Equatorial Guinea) and the Chairperson of the African UnionCommission, Dr. Jean Ping will co-chair the Conference.

Theconference that will be attended by representative of African countries and Turkey, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Representativesof the African Union Commission, the New Partnership for Africa’sDevelopment (NEPAD) Planning and Coordination Agency, and Regional EconomicCommunities (RECs) as well as observers from various international and regionalorganizations, will enable the two sides to review and discuss theAfrica-Turkish Partnership and the future perspectives. This will include thereview of the implementation of the Joint Plan of Action – Turkey-Africaapproved in November 2010.

The conference will, as well deliberate on the preparation of the 2ndTurkey-Africa Cooperation Summit. The First Africa – Turkey Cooperation Summit, held in Istanbul in August 2008, confirmed the commitment of Heads ofState and Government from both sides to work towards strengthening the variousdimensions of the strategic partnership.

AHigh Level Preparatory Meeting that will take place on 15 December will precedethe ministerial conference to consider the identified priority projects, thedraft Joint Communiqué and the agenda of the Ministerial Review Conference.

TheDeputy Undersecretary of Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Chairpersonof the Permanent Representatives Committee and a Representative of the AfricanUnion Commission will address the preparatory meeting.

AJoint Press Conference chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, the Chairperson of AU Executive Council of the African Union and theChairperson of the African Union Commission, will be held at the end of theConference (16 December 2011 at 18:45 – 19:15 hours at theÇırağan Palace Kempinski Hotel on.

Theaccreditation of the international press members will be made through theTurkish General Directorate of Press and Information. The announcementconcerning the accreditation will be made by the aforementioned GeneralDirectorate and through the Press Accreditations Desk, which will be opened atthe Çırağan Palace Hotel on 16 December 2011.

The accredited members of the press will have access to theevent. A Press Center will be available during the meeting at the“Çırağan Palace Hotel” giving communication,documentation and services to the representative of the media. A Yellow Badge will be given to Members of thePress selected by Turkish Directorate of Press and Information.

For further information, pleasecontact: Habiba Mejri-Cheikh, Director of Information and Communication African Union Commission; Email: habibam@african-union.orgor Mejri-cheikh.habiba@hotmail.com